After being thrown into the fire last midseason, when Jason Kendall was traded to Chicago, Suzuki enjoyed a respectable first full year behind the plate in '08. In addition to providing consistent production at the plate, he was an iron man behind it, leading the American League in innings caught and games started while drawing praise for his work with the team's many rookie pitchers. With better power production, the 25-year-old could play his way onto mixed-league rosters next year. Landon Powell, Oakland's first-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, can't seem to stay healthy, so Bowen likely will get another year behind Suzuki.

News: Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki doubled, singled and walked in Saturday's game against the Mariners. Suzuki went 2-for-4 and is batting .280.

Analysis: Suzuki is a catcher without a lot of power as he has just seven homers and 42 RBI on the year. Still, he's got a decent batting average and looks to remain Oakland's catcher next season. He'll enter 2009 as a No. 2 Fantasy option at the position

Kurt Suzuki returned to action on Friday September 26.

Rob Bowen's one-year deal with the A's is worth $535,000. That's about right. Our guess was $550,000.Source: The Associated Press

News: The A's avoided arbitration with backup catcher Rob Bowen on Friday.

Analysis: Bowen does little offensively, but he is a serviceable backup catcher for the A's. Ignore him even in the deepest of AL-only leagues because his at-bats figure to be too limited behind starter Kurt Suzuki this season

The Sports Network reports the Oakland Athletics re-signed C Rob Bowen to a one-year deal Friday, Dec. 12. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pat Burrell signing with Tampa Bay on Monday dramatically increased Oakland's chances of getting Giambi. Oakland's first baseman last season was rookie Daric Barton, 23, who batted .226 with nine homers, 47 RBIs and a .327 OBP.

The Washington Post reports that the Athletics don't seem willing to part with Daric Barton.The Nationals may ask for Barton if the Athletics pursue a trade for Nick Johnson.

Chico Harlan, of The Washington Post, reports the Oakland Athletics appear unwilling to part ways with 1B Daric Barton. The Washington Nationals may ask for Barton in a potential trade for 1B Nick Johnson.

Oakland Athletics 1B Jeff Baisley went 2-for-2 Saturday, Sept. 20, against the Seattle Mariners, with four RBIs, according to The Associated Press.

News: Oakland 3B Jeff Baisley went 2-for-2 on Saturday in a win over the Seattle Mariners. Baisley singled twice and drove in four runs.

Analysis: Baisley has pop in his bat and could get a look down the stretch with the rebuilding A's. Consider him nothing more than a deeper AL-only option at this point

After beginning his major league career hitless in his first 12 at-bats, Baisley has started to come alive recently. He's 5-for-8 with four RBIs over his last three games. The 25-year-old third baseman was selected from Triple-A Sacramento after a solid campaign during which he batted .298 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs in 81 regular season contests. He was then at his best when the games counted most, going 8-for-16 with two jacks and six RBIs in the first round of the Pacific Coast League Playoffs.

News: The Athletics signed 1B Tagg Bozied and OF Matt Carson to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training. Signee RHP Jonathan Hunton was merely given a minor league contract.

Analysis: These players are nothing more than organizational depth at this point in their careers. Ignore them in all Fantasy leagues right now

CBSSports.com reports the Oakland Athletics activated 2B Mark Ellis (shoulder) from the 60-day disabled list Sunday, Nov. 16.

Athletics agreed to terms with second baseman Mark Ellis on a two-year, $11 million contract with a club option for 2011. Ellis will make $5 million in 2009 and $5.5 million in 2010. The A's will be able to bring him back in 2011 for $6 million or buy him out for $500,000. It's a risky move for Oakland. Ellis has played in 130 games twice in seven major league seasons, and it's likely that his shoulder will remain a problem going forward. As an average offensive second baseman and perhaps the game's most underrated defender, he's a bargain at $5.5 million if healthy. However, he simply can't be penciled in to start 140 games.

News: The Athletics secured some stability in the middle of their infield, agreeing Monday on an $11 million, two-year contract with second baseman Mark Ellis. The A's also have a club option in the deal that could keep Ellis around through the 2011 season. Ellis gets $5 million next year and $5.5 million in 2010, and the A's have a $6 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout. He can earn an additional $800,000 annually in performance bonuses based on games. "We're really happy to have Mark back," assistant GM David Forst said. "He was honest all season long that he wanted to be back in Oakland after this year. That made it an easy conversation. Mark was an important part of a lot of playoff teams here and has been an important part of all we've done the last seven or eight years. ... We're looking forward to having Mark the next three years, not necessarily opening day."

Analysis: The 31-year-old Ellis is coming off right shoulder surgery last month to repair chips in the cartilage as well as a torn labrum. Ellis has spent his first seven years in the big leagues with Oakland, including 2004, when he was sidelined with an injury to the same shoulder. He batted .233 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 117 games for the A's in 2008, a rebuilding year for the young club in which Oakland finished 75-86 and with one fewer win than a year ago. He stole 14 bases and committed only four errors. The A's don't plan to rush him back. Consider him little more than an AL-only Fantasy second baseman on Draft Day. The A's might be confident in his healthy, but we are not

News: Oakland 2B/SS Cliff Pennington went 2-for-4 on Saturday in a loss to Seattle. Pennington doubled, scored a run and drove in a run on Saturday.

Analysis: There is long-term potential as a big leaguer with Pennington, but even if he receives full-time at bats in 2009, he's still just someone to consider in AL-only leagues in Fantasy

Pennington, the A's number one pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has shown a keen batting eye throughout his first stint in the big leagues. He's batting .253 with 14 runs, four steals and a .351 on-base percentage in 35 games since his callup. The 24-year-old was batting a combined .280 with two home runs, 34 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and a .404 on-base percentage in 115 games with Double-A Midland and Sacramento.

Cliff Pennington, the A's likely second baseman the rest of the way, had a big night on Monday as he had two hits at the plate and two steals on the bases.Pennington is hitting .262 overall but .327 in September in 49 AB. He has also scored nine runs and swiped three bags in what is shaping up to be a fine month for a player hoping to earn a utility role with the Athletics in 2009.

Susan Slusser, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports Oakland Athletics 3B Eric Chavez (shoulder) said he has no doubt that he will be able to return to third base next season. He stated that his rehab is going extremely well and that his shoulder is feeling better than it has in the last 10 years.

Eric Chavez's most recent shoulder surgery went great, and he intends to roam third base in 2009, according to the SF Chronicle. Chavez said, "I'm doing everything, and it's going well. I'm throwing at the stadium and that's feeling really good, and hitting is no problem at all. The last three weeks, everything's come together. My shoulder feels better than it has in the past 10 years."Chavez has won six Gold Gloves at third base. He will be looking for a bounce back campaign next season, and could be a favorable value pick for fantasy leagues.

News: Chavez (shoulder) says he has no doubt he'll be able to play third base next season. "I'm throwing at the stadium and that's feeling really good, and hitting is no problem at all," he told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The last three weeks, everything's come together. My shoulder feels better than it has in the past 10 years."

Spin:

Rusty Simmons, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports Oakland Athletics IF Jack Hannahan (rib cage) will miss at least three days and possibly the rest of the year with a strained muscle in his rib cage.

News: According to The Sports Xchange notes: 3B Jack Hannahan strained a ribcage muscle while catching a foul ball in the A's bullpen Saturday, and he will miss three to four games -- or perhaps the rest of the season, according to Oakland manager Bob Geren. Hannahan has played superbly on the defensive side while filling in for Eric Chavez. Donnie Murphy was recalled Sunday to provide infield depth with Hannahan out.

Analysis: Hannahan is too risky to use in any format for the final Fantasy Week 26 (Sept. 22-28) at this point. Next spring, the career reserve will go back being the part-time player he should be

Manager Bob Geren said Sunday that Jack Hannahan "will miss at least three days and maybe the rest of the season" with a strained rib cage muscle. Hannahan suffered the injury while catching a foul ball near the bullpen mound Sunday.Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Oakland Athletics 1B Jeff Baisley went 2-for-2 Saturday, Sept. 20, against the Seattle Mariners, with four RBIs, according to The Associated Press.

News: Oakland 3B Jeff Baisley went 2-for-2 on Saturday in a win over the Seattle Mariners. Baisley singled twice and drove in four runs.

Analysis: Baisley has pop in his bat and could get a look down the stretch with the rebuilding A's. Consider him nothing more than a deeper AL-only option at this point

After beginning his major league career hitless in his first 12 at-bats, Baisley has started to come alive recently. He's 5-for-8 with four RBIs over his last three games. The 25-year-old third baseman was selected from Triple-A Sacramento after a solid campaign during which he batted .298 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs in 81 regular season contests. He was then at his best when the games counted most, going 8-for-16 with two jacks and six RBIs in the first round of the Pacific Coast League Playoffs.

A Bay Area product, Dillon split the 2008 season between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville, batting .213 with a home run and six RBIs in 56 games with the Brewers.

News: The Athletics claimed 3B Joe Dillon off waivers from the Brewers.

Analysis: Dillon, who was once retired, is a veteran reserve at best. Ignore him in all Fantasy leagues at this point

CBSSports.com reports the Oakland Athletics claimed Milwaukee Brewers IF Joe Dillon off waivers Friday, Oct. 31.